Metallurgical Engineeringat South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduates earn $71,985/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Metallurgical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $718K; scenarios range from $635K to $736K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
This highly specialized field, with its limited program availability, means you're entering a niche with inherent demand. South Dakota Mines' technical focus and location in a state rich in natural resources and growing manufacturing sectors provide unique advantages. Your education will likely emphasize hands-on applications, preparing you directly for roles in mineral processing, materials science, or quality control for industries like aerospace, automotive, or even defense contractors. While the data shows a high AI risk, this likely signifies an evolution in the types of tasks you'll perform; your role will increasingly focus on complex problem-solving, material innovation, and R&D that AI tools augment rather than replace. To thrive, actively seek out internships and co-ops; early industry exposure is paramount for securing your place in this tightly-knit professional community.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Metallurgical Engineering
How South Dakota School of Mines and Technology stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Metallurgical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
How does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Metallurgical Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but South Dakota School of Mines and Technology trails the majority of Metallurgical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Metallurgical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Metallurgical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.